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Our Constantly Changing World

Take a quick look at your world and it immediately becomes obvious that all that is around us is in a constant state of change. While the nature of man has not changed, the world in which we live is so different from the world of our grandparents. Imagine what former generations would think if they were transported into our world. It is so different from what they knew.

There is an interesting Greek word used to describe this change. In a historical setting, it was used to describe Jesus as He passed by Matthew, the tax collector, and called him to become a follower of Jesus. Matthew was sitting at his place, but immediately he left all to follow Jesus (Matt. 9:9). Jesus passed by and the situation was never the same.

It is used to describe Jesus’ encounter with Bartimaeus, the blind man. As the Lord was passing out of Jericho, He opened his eyes (Matt. 9:27). Jesus continued His journey and the blind man was no longer sitting and begging. He followed Jesus. The world of all those who lived in Jericho was never the same because Jesus walked through their world.

One lexicographer illustrated the meaning of this word as seeing what happened in a panoramic picture as a movie camera scans what is before. As the action occurs, the picture continually changes. This continuous change is emphasized when we note that this Greek word is in the present tense, indicating ongoing change. 

With this in mind, consider the spiritual application made of this word. In 2 Corinthians 3, Paul described the face of Moses as it glowed after he had been in the presence of God. The veil Moses wore kept them from immediately seeing the change, but soon it was gone. Paul says that they could not see “what was passing away” (2 Cor. 3:13). That glory shown in his face was passing away. As Paul wrote these words, the glory associated with that law was about to end. Just 15 years after the apostle wrote these words, Judaism came to a crashing halt when the Romans destroyed the temple.

The same is true of our world. John described all that was in the world—the lust of the flesh and eyes and the pride of life—and says it all “is passing away” (1 John 2:15-17). This truth shows us the folly of investing our lives in the physical world. It is passing away.

Our world is constantly changing. Yesterday’s world with all its problems does not exist. Can you think of anything which has not changed? I know of only one thing which never changes. “The word of the Lord endures forever” (1 Pet. 1:25). “Every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever” (Psa. 119:160). The world is changing, but He never does!